Taughannock Falls

Sunday, July 14, 2013

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Here's Richard Falk, the Albert G Milbank Professor Emeritus of International Law at Princeton University and Visiting Distinguished Professor in Global and International Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara:

"Instead of seeking to prosecute and punish Snowden, the healthy national response would be to reestablish limits on governmental surveillance and extraterritorial security claims. At least, it is time for citizens not to be fooled by the politics of deflection by which the government and a pliant media avoid the message and obsess about the messenger, and discuss the substantive issues that prompted the disclosures rather than seek to punish an individual of conscience who chose bravely to risk the fury of a state because some of its unseemly secrets were being made public."

http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2013/07/201371011618650821.html
This, at a minimum, is the sort of reaction one would expect from any sane U.S. citizen, from across the political spectrum. Sadly, many folks have chosen to reveal themselves during this crisis as completely craven cowards, willing, even eager, to throw themselves on the mercies of the surveillance state. Why? This is a difficult question, but history offers many other examples of folks failing to stand up to bullies. Authoritarian regimes don't require enthusiastic support from subjects, frightened obedience will suit them just as well.

Friday, July 5, 2013

Thursday, July 4, 2013

"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."
The whole point of this amendment is to prohibit the kind of blanket spying on the general population that the NSA currently does. Have a great holiday everyone!